The 2005 Leaver’s Christmas Reception was held in the Atlas Pub in Fulham, marking the 5th year running that the OM Club has supported such an event. The Club Secretary, Martin Evans, stood in for the President, Ian Macfadyen. Steven Bishop and William Wells, Club Committee members, supported the largest ever turn out of 120 OMs from this year group. The whole event was very successful, including a speech from Martin who made a respectful mention of the sadness of the recent death of Lily Hastings-Bass (MO 2000-05), who was a much appreciated member of this year group. Harry Vickers, the former Senior Prefect, thanked the Club on behalf of those attending.
The City Dinner took place again at The Renaissance Hotel, High Holborn on Wednesday 15th November and proved an excellent evening. What was most encouraging was the attendance of many younger OMs – particularly Marlburiennes – and huge thanks must go to William Wells for arranging a most enjoyable event.
The President, Air Marshal Ian Macfadyen, was in the Chair and made a witty and amusing speech and the Master was, as usual, on cracking form and gave a first-class Question and Answer session following his speech. It was well after mid-night before OM revellers finally bade farewell.
The Club Secretary with Aki Akiwumi-Thompson B3 1986-91
A most enjoyable Reception took place in the Archives Room, where ‘The John Betjeman at Marlborough’ Exhibition is currently on show.
Candida Lycett-Green, Sir John’s daughter, was amongst several guests and the Reception was followed by readings of Betjeman’s poems, some accompanied by music, which was kindly arranged by Tallulah Brown and members of the School.
The Exhibition, arranged by Archivist, Dr Terry Rogers, continues until the end of Term and all are welcome. It is open from 10.00 am – 4.00 pm Monday – Friday.
On 9th November 2006 five OMs and their wives/partners attended a Dinner, organised by James Foster, which was held in Nairobi. Those present included Michael Airy (CO 1944-48), Nicholas Evans (LI 1954-58), James Foster PR 1944-46), Lawrence Sutcliffe (C1 1948-52) and Helen Thornton (TU 1982-84).
A dinner was held for the Scottish members of the Club in the New Club on Princes Street on the 3rd November. The dinner was attended by 33 guests including some 19 OM’s, members of Common Room, The Master and the President of The Club – Air Marshal Ian Macfadyen CB OBE. Those attending once again enjoyed an excellent dinner in convivial company with a back drop of a floodlit Edinburgh Castle. OMs present spanned 51 years of College history.
The dinner was addressed by the Club President who articulated a desire to see the Club and the College work closely together in the future, in particular to give prospective OM’s as wide an opportunity as possible on leaving to flourish in our modern, highly competitive employment market. The opportunities presented by the new Club website were also highlighted and members were encouraged to take advantage of this facility.
The Master delivered an invigorating summary of recent activities and achievements at the College and clearly is presiding over an exciting chapter in the School’s history. There are areas where it is felt that access to a wider audience of the benefits that the College can bring to its students could be enhanced, and there seems to be a determination to deal with these.
While the dinner was a success it was a pity very few recent leavers attended and I will be seeing if I can rectify this in years to come. If any readers have a view on this please do not hesitate to email me with your thoughts.
Finally, I would like to publicly thank The Club team, Martin Evans and Penny Redman, for their tireless help and support in organising this event. Your work on behalf of the Club is very much appreciated.
Richard Thompson - Scottish Branch Secretaryrichardthompson222@btinternet.com
A very splendid OM Dinner was held at the home of Charles Watson (B1 1967-72) on 15th September, extremely well organised by Joanna Longworth (MO 1989-91), Rupert Wise (B3 1970-75) and Charles himself. A galaxy of talent sat down to an excellent dinner and, apart from the above mentioned, others at the table were David Saxty Good (B2 1955-60) our Secretary in the UAE; Peter Lockhart Smith (C2 1956-60); James Cordahi (C3 1980-85); Walter Paice (CO 1995-2000): Charles Benson (TH 1990-95); Jeremy Fremlin Key (C2 1967-69) and Toby Simpson (B3 1986-91) with William Attenborough (CO 1966-70) putting in a brief appearance!
The guest speaker was the Club Secretary, who brought everyone up to date on the College and provided a few amusing anecdotes! He was very well looked after for three days in Dubai and became well acquainted with the Beach Club and other licit delights! It was a most successful occasion and hugely enjoyed by all present, many of whom had never met before. Immense thanks to Charles Watson, Joanna Longworth and Rupert Wise for making this possible.
The 20th Old Marlburian Chartered Surveyors dinner was held on Wednesday 23rd June in the Committee Room of the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London SW1. Paul Orchard-Lisle (SU 1952-56), Past President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, was in the chair having retired just four days beforehand as a highly successful Chairman of Marlborough College Council for the last five years. Guests of Honour were the Master, Nicholas Sampson, and his wife Nancy who had read Land Economy at Cambridge University and practiced for a time afterwards in a firm of chartered surveyors and auctioneers in Ely and was therefore an honorary member of the OM chartered surveyors!
Forty members of the profession attended this very convivial evening covering all ages including Annabel Cochrane (B2 1987-89) and Sarah Nicholson (NC 1995-00) representing the ‘distaff’ side of the surveying profession. The evening was organised by James Gillett (C2 1971-75) whose grandfather H. E. Gillett had organised the first of these dinners in 1952 when the then President of the RICS John Arnold-Forster was also an OM. Three members present in 1952 were at this year’s dinner: Professors Martin Hattersley (B3 1941-45) and Alan Gillett (C2 1944-48), and John Lucas (B1 1944 -49).
The Master gave a fascinating address regarding the current situation at the College and answered many questions with good humour. There was full agreement among members present that the evening was a success and should be repeated in two year’s time. There are 189 OM Chartered Surveyors or members of the property profession and James Gillett will be pleased to hear from any other OM’s who would like to be on his mailing list.
Robert Drewett (C3/BH 1972-77) organised a most enjoyable event at the Clifton Club in Bristol which was attended by 60 OMs and their partners. The setting was extremely elegant and witty speeches were made by the Secretary, the Master and Ian Macfadyen, the President Elect. It was so good to see so many people who normally do not attend these events and all vowed to keep in touch and to come again.
A very successful Dinner was held at the Millenium UN Plaza Hotel in New York on 11th April 2006. There were over 80 guests with OMs, current, past and prospective parents attending. Martin Evans spoke on Club Developments and the Master looked back at the life of the School, and then told us of his exciting vision for the future. The Dinner was also attended by Bob Pick, the Second Master and Robert Jeens, Chairman of the Foundation. The evening was rounded off by Mark Malloch Brown (C1 1967-71), Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations.
It was the best attended dinner we have held in New York, and groups came from many parts of the US and Canada.
We are mot grateful to Charlie and Ginny Kirkwood of Shawnee on Delaware for their generosity (and in addition they have had five children attend Marlborough!) and Sherry Agar (B2 1975-77), who so ably assisted in the arrangements and organisation.
All felt it was a bonus to have a mix of groups of people with interests in Marlborough, and particularly attracting some more recent Leavers who had a table and were able to renew recent associations and friendships with the College.
Thank you to all who attended.
Martin Evans01672 892 385mclub@mcadmin.org.uk